Discord: NRL logo is a no-go

Steve Mascord

THE new NRL logo makes Discord's blood boil — but luckily other aspects of the new strategic plan calm us down a little bit.

We all had our hopes for the ARL Commission. My biggest was that we would have an inclusive, outward looking organisation which accepted its role to lead the game globally in much the same way the MLB, NFL and NBA do in the US and the AFL does here.

These organisations tirelessly push their brands as flagships in new markets, value new converts highly and do their best to distance themselves from parochialism and geographic limitations.

New logos for the Queensland Rugby League and Country Rugby League.

The AFL props up expansion teams to the detriment of those in Melbourne, has played many exhibition games overseas and has worked hard to foster links with Gaelic football. Like the NFL, they are the international governing bodies for their sports.

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The NBA and MLB are much better resourced than their sports' international governing bodies. They could wash their hands of all but domestic matters but instead they do the heavy lifting to spread the gospel — on a grand scale — because their massive TV and sponsorship incomes allow them to (yes, the NFL logo does feature stars and stripes, but all their franchises are within the US).

Instead of taking this path, the ARL Commission has gone in exactly the opposite direction, removing the black-and-white recognition of the New Zealand market from their logo and adding every jingoistic Australianism to the new symbol excepting a meat pie and a Holden car.

It is so parochial they've had to do another one for the Warriors! What use is a new logo that instantly requires you to design another one? John Grant reads out the Australian team, the commissioners go to Tests in green-and-gold ties and only visit the Australian sheds, not the Kiwis.

It's embarrassing. When you think Premier League, do you think of the England team? No, you think of a cosmopolitan competition which brings together players from around the world, contributing to dozens of national teams.

Maybe the old NRL administration was cumbersome but at least the separation of "church and state" — club and country — at Fox Studios was dignified and professional. David Gallop once described the Warriors as the "jewel in the crown".

Now they're not even a pixel on the logo.

Remember when the Broncos had to run around with a big blue NSWRL logo on their chests? That was seen as a symbol of Sydney-centric administration and the likes of John Quayle and Ken Arthurson had the good sense to rename the competition the ARL — with a minimum of fuss. Again, we have seen regression.

Luckily, the commission showed some courage in announcing its aims for 2017. I can't remember a rugby league administration that has been as specific in its aims anywhere, ever. So full credit for that.

But my fear is that in this country — particularly in sport — we are too quick to hoist the national colours in tokenistic gestures and too slow to accept that our achievements and resources carry responsibilities towards everyone else who plays those sports — responsibilities that go beyond just beating them.

The Americans have no trouble understanding this. In Oz, we tend to be good underdogs — but very bad leaders.

Hawaii to Vegas to Hull

Apologies for the late appearance of the 41st Discord for 2012. From Hawaii to Vegas to Hull in the space of a week was always going to take some doing and with other deadlines pressing, I just didn't get around to it until now.

The England-France game at Craven Park on Saturday was flat as a spectacle, but the crowd kept it entertaining and East Hull was definitely the right place for the event.

With Australia and New Zealand turning their backs on the English this year, the Rugby Football League has done all it can to prepare their team for the World Cup.

However, I'm not sure that cakewalks against Wales and France, or a mid-season run-out against the Exiles next year, will be enough.

A quick word about last week's game. There was never a call to cancel the Hawaii All Stars-Queensland Indigenous game because of the tsunami. Quite the opposite — the announcement over the PA in the first half was that the Kaiser Stadium was in a "safe zone" and nobody there had anything to to fear.

Let's go to the comments...

Feedback keeps coming on the origin for Origin players...

El Seano said we should have place of birth for Origin but I think Ben's response to that covers my own thoughts.

Neslom's idea of restricting Australia, New Zealand and England to players born in their respective country for the World Cup isn't a bad one. But then, those three countries would only want to use those men in the lead-up games and I think players with legitimate claims to selection would start suing.

And they'd win — because in the tournament itself, the other teams are subject to different selection criteria which any court would find procedurally unfair.

I think the best policy is simply for players to have "tier one" eligibility, which is the big three, and "tier two", which is everyone else. If you miss out on tier one selection, you can play for someone else without it impacting on your primary country of election.

Greg A argued in favour of again adding New Zealand to Origin. I'm opposed for the reasons I have already stated — I did see it in action in 1997 and didn't like it.

Jimbob talked about the Kiwi Origin. We were supposed to be getting it next year. Now it looks more like 2014.

TheLambethBronco — residency certainly has a massive impact on the make-up of most rugby union national teams. Many national basketball teams feature expat Americans. Tennis and golf players often represent the country they live in, not the one they were raised in. If rugby league denies athletes the same rights which other sports now take for granted, it could face censure and legal action. In the case of MLB and NFL, the All Star teams do not represent geographical areas.

Opinionator had some ideas re Origin. Origin will not be "removed" from where it is because it is worth a fortune. There is no TV market, sponsors or venue for a "Non-Australia" team.

Dear Watson, I think the reason we look at age 16 for Origin qualification is that players take up the game at different ages. If we have one player who is a Queenslander because he played there at six playing alongside another who qualified at 17, people would be bagging that as inequitable too.

8 comments so far

Really? All you've got to whinge about this week is the logo? Gee whiz...must be a verrrrrrry slow news week.

Commenter

Diss Cord

Location

Sydney

Date and time

November 05, 2012, 9:15AM

it is cricket season....not much RL news around.Did you notice how the ARLC deliberately scheduled their launch of the strategic plan on the same day as the announcement of the 1st Test team for the match v South Africa?

Much like the AFL having "trade period" run right through the Spring Racing Carnival in Melbourne

Commenter

ew75

Date and time

November 05, 2012, 10:57AM

Re. Logo comments - Why is not the National Team under an ARL Logo? In 1982 Ken Arthurson and I incorporated the ARL to be the fountainhead of the Game - traditionally the "kangaroos" are regarded as Australia not National therefore the current Logo diminishes that. Its time therefore to recognise our International team as -Australian Rugby League- and endorse it accordingly.

Commenter

bob.a

Date and time

November 05, 2012, 10:01AM

Steve, I accept that you wanted the ARLC to be a more global custodian for the game of Rugby League - and it is a worthy goal. However it is the Australian RLC, and is owned by the NRL clubs. Their interests to not extend to international RL at the current time. In 10 years when the Australian game is in order, it may be the time to look outward. The NBA has had at last 30-40 years to get its house in order since it did in the 70's - I remember going to NBA Jam session in Sydney when I was a teenager in the early 90's.

I find it laughable that you describe it as an achievement of the AFL that is fosters the game globally - their efforts are minimal and tokenistic.

Commenter

ew75

Location

Sydney

Date and time

November 05, 2012, 10:40AM

AFL is doing everything it can - including using Australian tax payers $$$ [as 'aid abroad' ] to try establish interest in their game so they can actually get more players.

What the AFL wouldn't give to have NZ come on board, or at least entice the Polynesian market/players over to AFL. Oh, wait a second, that was Israel Folau's job! LOL!

Commenter

Diss Cord

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

November 05, 2012, 12:13PM

I agree, NZ Warriors should not have to run around with a green and gold badge on their chest, nor should we want them to.

Perhaps they can use a black and white version of the logo?

Commenter

ted

Location

Sydney

Date and time

November 06, 2012, 5:30AM

"AUSTRALIAN RLC"

"NATIONAL RL"

The logo suits the name maybe you should be criticizing the name

Commenter

goan

Date and time

November 06, 2012, 5:42AM

Yeh I think on the list of problems faced by the ARLC, the logos would would rank pretty low.

Of much bigger concern is the lack of direction with fixing up the referees. So they've sacked the bosses (fair enough) and sacked two referees - why? Those guys weren't getting the top games anyway - they weren't responsible for the major stuff-ups last year.

The system is broken and it will take more than a few token sackings to fix it. The whole thing needs to be rebuilt from the ground up, with an overhaul of grass roots referee development, clarification of the rules and a whole new approach to elite referee training.